Aden Holloway was involved in a traffic stop March 10, per his attorney Jason Neff. Six days later, the Alabama basketball star was arrested on two felony drug charges.
“I don’t think the two things are related, though,” Neff told AL.com. “I know a lot of people are drawing that assumption. I think it was very coincidental.”
Holloway was arrested Monday on a charge of first-degree possession of marijuana, which is a felony in Alabama. He was also charged with failing to affix a tax stamp, also a felony.
Holloway has been suspended from the men’s basketball team the week of the NCAA Tournament. Holloway, the Crimson Tide’s second-leading scorer also, was removed from campus, per a statement from UA.
Police found a little more than 2 pounds of marijuana in Holloway’s apartment on Monday morning, according to court records obtained by AL.com.
“What we’ve learned so far, even though it was a large quantity of marijuana, it’s personal use on his part,” Neff said Tuesday. “Sounds like there’s no evidence of drug distribution or sales.”
What we know about the traffic stop
Police pulled Holloway over for improper passing, Neff said, reading from the traffic ticket.
Holloway was on his way to class or practice. Neff said police then found a “small baggie” of marijuana in Holloway’s vehicle.
“I think it was either a gram or less than a gram,” Neff said.
Then, police issued Holloway a citation, Neff said. Holloway was not arrested
“It’s still a misdemeanor and they could take you to jail, but most of the time, if the individual is cooperative and agrees to show up in court, it’s kind of like you’re getting a speeding ticket essentially,” Neff said. “When you go to court, it is a misdemeanor charge.”
Three days after the traffic stop, Alabama played in the SEC tournament against Ole Miss in Nashville. Holloway scored 18 points in the loss.
Timeline: The Aden Holloway case
Alabama basketball star Aden Holloway was arrested Monday for felony marijuana possession and failing to affix a tax stamp, days before the NCAA Tournament starts. Following his arrest, the University of Alabama suspended him and removed him from campus pending further investigation. Holloway’s attorney states the marijuana was for personal use, not distribution, and requested hearings with the university and district court.
Probable cause for March 16 arrest
On the morning of March 16, drug agents served a search warrant at Holloway’s apartment and said they found loose marijuana, a vacuum sealed bag with marijuana, a rolling tray and packaging material, according to the deposition and charge sheet obtained by AL.com on Tuesday.
Was the traffic stop used as probable cause for the search warrant six days later? “I don’t think so,” Neff said.
Neff said Wednesday he requested the affidavit for the search warrant but hasn’t obtained that yet. Once he has that document, he said he will be able to “determine the basis for the search warrant.”
“I don’t think the two are connected, just from people I’ve asked around,” Neff said. “I think we are going to find the two are completely unrelated.”
AL.com requested from Tuscaloosa police/the City of Tuscaloosa comment/information on the probable cause used for the search warrant, but the city denied the request.
“Pursuant to Alabama Code Section 12-21-3.1, law enforcement investigative information, including reports, dash camera and body camera footage, is not public record,” read the email from the city. “Accordingly, such information cannot be produced in response to a public records request.”
Neff argues the police “don’t have the manpower” to follow up on every single citation for marijuana use.
“I realize the lay person and the readers don’t see it that way,” Neff said. “‘It’s natural. ‘Oh they caught him with marijuana, then they started an investigation, then they searched his house.’ It doesn’t really work like that.”